Howard Co. adopts new beekeeping rules

By
Washington Post editors

The Howard County Council Monday night approved an overhaul of zoning rules that will allow urban beekeepers to maintain hives.

The new rules allow hives to be within 10 feet of a neighboring home if a 6-foot-high fence or hedge is in place, and one amendment says bees must not "unreasonably interfere with the property of others or the comfort of the public." Another amendment requires beekeepers to force the insects to fly at least 6 feet above any high deck on an adjoining house, and a third allows them in front yards, if at least 50 feet back from the street.

Under previous zoning rules, bees were classified as farm animals and required to be kept 200 feet from a neighbor's property.

Isn't it great when lawyers and business types write rules? The beekeeper must "force" the bees to fly at a certain altitude? Wow. When the bees leave the hive, they're foraging, not looking for victims. Silly, silly council. But, at least they are allowing urban and suburban hives. This is also good for vegetable gardeners, free pollination.

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